Pan carrier assembly for fabric samples

ABSTRACT

A PAN CARRIER ASSEMBLY FOR STORING AND TRANSPORTING FABRIC SAMPLES AND THE LIKE, INCLUDING PLURAL PANS FORMING OPEN RECEPTACLES FOR CONTAINING THE SAMPLES AND HAVING A FLANGE RIM ABOUT THE PAN OPENING, AND A CARRIER FRAME FOR SUPPORTING PAIRS OF THE PANS IN ALIGNED CONFRONTING RELATION. THE CARRIER FRAME HAS TWO OPPOSITELY OPENING WELLS INTO WHICH THE FLANGE RIMS NEST, AND RETAINING FORMATIONS FOR RELEASABLY HOLDING THE PANS IN ASSEMBLED RELATION ON THE CARRIER FRAME.

United States Patent lnventors Geoffrey E. Grieb New York, N.Y.;Daniorth Cardozo, Jr., Weston, Conn. Appl. No 853,074 Filed Aug. 26,1969 Patented June 28, 1971 Assignee Concord Fabrics, Inc.

New York, N.Y.

PAN CARRIER ASSEMBLY FOR FABRIC SAMPLES 1 2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 190/16, 190/51 Int. Cl A45c 11/00 Field ofSearch 190/16, 29, 3s,51, 52

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,186,529 6/1965 Gilbert190/51 3,298,479' 1/1967 Palmer. 190/51 3.388.777 6/1968 Nolan 190/51Primary Examiner-Donald F. Norton Attorney-Mason. Fenwick and LawrenceABSTRACT: A pan carrier assembly for storing and transporting fabricsamples and the like, including plural pans forming open receptacles forcontaining the samples and having a flange rim about the pan opening,and a carrier frame for supporting pairs of the pans in alignedconfronting relation. The carrier frame has two oppositely opening wellsinto which the flange rims nest, and retaining formations for releasablyholding the pans in assembled relation on the carrier frame.

PATENTED JUN28 I971 SHEET 2 OF 2 2.6 i; qeoozojn.

PAN CARRIER ASSEMBLY FOR FABRIC SAMPLES BACKGROUND AND OBJECTS OF THEINVENTION Heretofore, transporting containers for carrying fabricsamples, textiles and the like on sales calls have frequently been inthe form of conventional luggage cases having the usual two casesections hinged together, and sometimes having rack mechanisms withinthe case sections. An object of the present invention is the provisionof a novel system for transport and storage of fabric samples to beshown by salesmen to prospective buyers, wherein basic units in the formof'plastic pans provide receptacles for the fabric samples and'may bereadily assembled into carrier frames of either two or four pan capacityfor transport on a sales call. The pan may be packed with portions ofthe fabric line in accordance with the salesman's wishes and may bestored in a salesmans desk or other storage facility in a form similarto pullout drawers, or may be rapidly assembled in various combinationsin the carrier frames to provide a variety of portions of the linedepending on the an ticipated needs of the particular sales call. Thus,great flexibility is provided as well as improved convenience in storageof the sample containing pans, avoiding many of the disadvantagesattendant to the use of conventional luggage cases for transporting suchsamples.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating preferredembodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pancarrier assembly, illustrating a first embodiment of the presentinvention adapted to carry two pans;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view ofthe two-pan carrier frame, with the pansremoved;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a pan carrier and pan assemblyadapted'to carry four pans; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view illustrating thedetails of construction of the safety release mechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings,wherein like reference characters designate corresponding partsthroughout the several FIGS., the pan carrier assembly of the presentinvention, indicated generally by the reference character 10, isdesigned to facilitate transportation by salesmen'of a plurality ofpans, indicated at 11, forming upwardly opening traylike receptacles forstoring a plurality of fabric'samples. The pans 11 are preferably vacuumformed plastic pans, of a size about 12X 16 X3 inches, each having abottom panel 12, side walls 13, and outwardly projecting peripheralflanges 14 at the edges of the sidewalls opposite the edges joined tothe bottom panel. These pans 11 may be formed of styrene sheet materialor other wellknown plastic sheet material by theprocess customarilyemployed in'vacuum forming molded plastic shells to be used as luggagecase sections and similar receptacles. It will be appreciated that theplastic material is somewhat flexibly deformable so that a limitedamount of inward flexingof the flange portions at least along themidregion of eachflange can be effected.

These pans 11 can be used in two principal ways. They can be stored inquantities at each salesman's desk in the manner of a pullout drawer,either'prepacked with selected portions of the fabric line or packed bythe salesman or under his direction prior to a scheduled visit or seriesof visits to contain the portions of the fabric line which the salesmanwishes to display. Alternatively, the pans 11, after being packed withthe desired fabric samples, can be assembled into the 1 carrier framesas hereinafter described, of either the two or four pan 0 members isformed of elongated metallic members, such as metallic extrusions,having a T-shaped cross section providing a central web portion 21 andoppositely directed flanges 22, 22a lying in a common planeperpendicular to the plane of-the web portion 21. These frame members17-20 are preferably of anodized metal wherein the height of the webportion 21 in the vertical plane is one-half inch andthe maximumhorizontal width of the flange portions 22, 22a is H s inch. The webportion 21, which forms the thick vertical leg of the T may bethree-eighths inch ,thick, and the flanges may be one-eighth inch thick.Assembled onto the opposite lateral surfaces of the web portion 21 ofthe frame members are a pair of sheet metal panels 23, 23a fastened tothe surfaces of the web portion 21 in any suitable manner, as byadhesives, countersunk screws, or other conventional fastening members.A pair of footing members 24 are secured to the lower end portions ofthe vertical frame members 17, 18 and project a substantial distanceoutwardly from the vertical center plane of the pan carrier frame, forexample, about 3% inches, to rest ona horizontal surface and support theframed panel section 16 in a vertical plane. The outer end portions ofthe footing members 24 may have channel-shaped rubber pads or feet 24ato engage the supporting surface.

The flanges 22, 22aand panels 23, 23a define two oppositely openingshallow wells of a size corresponding to the flanged portions of thepans 11 to accommodate the flanges 14 of one pan in nested relationwithin each well, as indicated in FIG. 1. Bottom retaining lips areprovided at the lower corners of each well by channel members25 having aweb or base 25a about 1 inch wideand channel sides 25b projectingupwardly about one-half inch through recesses 20a in the opposite endportions ofthe lower horizontal frame member 20. The web or baseportions 250 of these channel members 25 are secured against the lowersurface of the flange portions 22, 22a of the frame member 20 by anysuitable fastening means, such as the screws 25c.

A latching member 26 is provided in the midregion of the upper framemember 19, andis also formed of a channel-having a web 26a about 1 inchwide overlying the flange portion of the topframe member 19 and havingdownwardly projecting channel sides or flanges 26b extending aboutthree-fourths inch downwardly from the web portion through elongatedrecesses 19a in the opposite flanges22. 22a of the top frame 55 me e-.Ihc la h ns-m mbsr2 -na sta l sinrza rss b spindle 27 which extendsthrough a suitable bore in the web portion 21 of the top frame member 19and is resiliently biased to a downward or latchingposition by coilspring 28 compressed between the lower end of the web portion of frame19 and a shoulder, formed for example by a washer 27a retained on thespindle 27 by retaining pin 27b, such as a cotter pin or the like.

The extent of axial movement of the spindle '27 is such that thechannelportion of the latching member 26 can be raised toclear the lower edgesof the channel side'flanges 26b above the flanges of frame-member 19 andfree the latching member 26 to be rotated to an angular release positionrelative to the frame member 19 with the lower edges of the channel sideflanges 26b resting on the'top surface of panel member 19. The upperedge portions of the pan 11 must then be manually depressed'downwardlythrough'a short distance, for example, about one-eight inch, to clearthe upper edge of the uppermost flange l4 below-the nose of thesubstantially triangular strike formation 29 at each end of each of therecesses 19a. The pans can then be lifted to withdraw the flanges 14along the lower edge of the pans from behind the channel side flanges25b of the channel members 25 for complete withdrawal of the pans fromthe carrier frame 15. To reassemble a pan with the carrier frame, theflange 14 at the lower edge of each pan is inserted between the channelside flanges 25b and the panels 23, 23a and, with the latching member 26raised to the release position, the pans are swung inwardly about theirlower edges toward the framed panel section 16 until the edges of theupper flanges l4 engage in and are cammed downwardly by the inclinedsurfaces of the strikes 29 and pass between the strikes 29 and thepanels 23, 23a, whereupon the uppermost flanges 14 snap upwardly to beretained in these spaces.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a conventional U-shaped handle 30 is alsosecured to the top frame member 19, the legs of the handle 30 beingdisposed, for example, in flanking relation to the latching member 26.

The four-pan carrier frame is illustrated in FIG. 4 and indicated by thereference character 35. Its construction is substantially the same asthe two-pan carrier, except that the framed panel section, heredesignated by the reference character 16', includes T-shaped framemembers 17', 18', 19', and 20 of the same cross section as the framemembers for the two-pan carrier frame, and panels 23', 23a defining twooppositely opening wells each sized to receive the flanges 14 of two ofthe pane l 1. Thus, for pans wherein the perimeter defined by the freeedges of the flanges 14 are 16 inches by 12 inches, the wells defined bythe frame members l7'20' and panels 23', 230, may each have a heightslightly over l6 inches and a width slightly over 24 inches toaccommodate two pans 11 in side-by-side fashion as illustrated in FIG.4. Because of the relatively long expanse between the vertical framemembers l7, 18', a spacer of styrofoam or other material, indicated at36 and extending from the midregion of the bottom frame member 20', tothe midregion of the top frame member 19', is provided between thepanels 23', 23a, to maintain the two panels in properly spaced relation.Bottom retaining lips are defined at the two lower corners of the wellsby channel members 25 of the same construction as described inconnection with the preceding embodiment, and an additional bottomretaining channel member 25 is provided at the longitudinal center ofthe bottom frame member 20 assembled to the frame in the same manner asthe channel members 25, but wherein the horizontal longitudinal extentof the channel member 25' is approximately twice that of the channelmembers 25. Also, a pair of latching members 26' are associated with thetop frame member 19 in the same manner as the latching member 26 isassociated with the top frame member 19 in the preceding embodiment, andare located substantially midway between the handle 30' and the oppositeends of the top frame member 19' so as to releasably latch the uppermostflange l4 ofthe pans 11.

We claim:

1. A pan carrier assembly for storage and transportation of fabricsamples and the like, comprising a plurality of pans for containing thesamples, each pan being a concave traylike shell of flexibly deformablematerial defining an open receptacle when removed from the assemblyhaving a substantially planar base wall and sidewalls extendingintegrally therefrom terminating in outwardly directed flange portionscollectively forming a substantially rectangular flange perimeterframing the receptacle opening, and a carrier frame having a handleformation thereon for removably supporting and transporting a pluralityof said pans in aligned pairs with their openings facing each other, thecarrier frame comprising panel means defining a pair of oppositelyfacing rectangular planar abutment surfaces paralleling a medialreference plane of the frame, frame members circumscribing the fouredges of said surfaces forming rim flanges projecting outwardlytherefrom and defining therewith a pair of oppositely facing shallowwells each sized to receive the flange perimeter of at least one of saidpans nested therein, first retaining lip members protruding inwardlyinto each well from a first one of the frame members bounding the sameto outwardly lap and retain a corresponding flange portion of the pansagainst the abutment surfaces of the associated wells, and secondretaining lip members movably supported on a second one of the framemembers spaced from said first lip members for selective movement to aholding position protruding into each well in outwardly lapping andretaining relation to another flange portion of the pans against saidabutment surface and to a release position withdrawing the same fromsuch lapping rela-' tion to free the pans for removal from the carrierframe.

2. A pan carrier assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said panelmeans comprises a pair of rectangular sheet material panels spaced insymmetrical parallel relation on opposite sides of said medial referenceplane of the carrier frame, and spacer formations disposed between atleast the marginal portions of said panels maintaining them in uniformspaced relation.

3. A pan carrier assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein said framemembers each comprise an elongated rectilinear structural member ofT-shaped cross section having a central web portion extending betweenthe margins of said panels and forming said spacer formations andoppositely projecting flange portions forming said rim flangesprojecting perpendicular to said reference .plane and outwardly beyondsaid surfaces a distance slightly greater than the thickness of theflange perimeter of said pans.

4. A pan carrier assembly as defined in claim 3 wherein said rim flangesof said second frame'm ember lie in a common plane perpendicular to saidreference plane, and said second retaining lip members being formed of aU-shaped elongated channel having a web portion located outwardlyadjacent said second frame member and a pair of channel side flangesextending integrally from the web portion toward the center of thecarrier frame, said second frame member having recesses in the rimflanges thereof accommodating passage of said channel side flangestherethrough into said lapping relation to the flange perimeters of saidpans when said channel is longitudinally aligned with said second framemember, and resiliently biased spindle means supporting said channel forrotary movement about a spindle axis perpendicular to said common planeand for axial movement along the spindle axis to permit selectivewithdrawal of the channel side flanges from said recesses and from saidlapping relation and rotation of the channel to an angular positionrelative to the second frame member.

5. A pan carrier assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein said rim flangesof said second frame member lie in a common plane perpendicular to saidreference plane, and said second retaining lip members being formed of aU-shaped elongated channel having a web portion located outwardlyadjacent said second frame member and a pair of channel side flangesextending integrally from the web portion toward the center of thecarrier frame, said second frame member having recesses in the rimflanges thereof accommodating passage of said channel side flangestherethrough into said lapping relation to the flange perimeters of saidpans when said channel is longitudinally aligned with said second framemember, and resiliently biased spindle means supporting said channel forrotary movement about a spindle axis perpendicular to said common planeand for axial movement along the spindle axis to permit selectivewithdrawal of the channel side flanges from said recesses and from saidlapping relation and rotation of the channel to an angular positionrelative to the second frame member.

6. A pan carrier assembly as defined in claim I, wherein said framemembers each'comprise an elongated rectilinear structural member ofT-shaped cross section having a central web portion connected to andsupporting said panel means and oppositely projecting flange portionsforming said rim flanges projecting perpendicular to said referenceplane and outwardly beyond said surfaces a distance slightly greaterthan the thickness of the flange perimeter of said paris.

7. A pan carrier assembly as defined in claim 6 wherein said rim flangesof said second frame member lie in a common plane perpendicular to saidreference plane, and said second retaining lip members being formed of aU-shaped elongated channel having a web portion located outwardlyadjacent-said second frame member and a pair of channel side flangesextending integrally from the web portion toward the center of thecarrier frame, said second frame member having recesses in the rimflanges thereof accommodating passage of said channel side flangestherethrough into said lapping relation to the flange perimeters of saidpans when said channel is longitudinally aligned with said second framemember, and resiliently biased spindle means supporting said channel forrotary movement about a spindle axis perpendicular to said common planeand for axial movement along the spindle axis to permit selectivewithdrawal of the channel side flanges from said recesses and from saidlapping relation and rotation of the channel to an angular positionrelative to the second frame member.

8. A pan carrier assembly as defined in claim 7, wherein said carrierframe includes a pair of footing members secured to an opposite pair ofsaid frame members and projecting in opposite directions from saidreference plane to support said carrier frame and a horizontal surfacewith the planes of said abutment surfaces disposed in vertical planesand said first and second frame members arranged as bottom and tophorizontal frame members, respectively.

9. A pan carrier assembly as defined in claim I wherein said rim flangesof said second frame member lie in a common plane perpendicular to saidreference plane, and said second retaining lip members being formed of aU-shaped elongated channel having a web portion located outwardlyadjacent said second frame member and a pair of channel side flangesextending integrally from the web portion toward the center of thecarrier frame, said second frame member having recesses in the rimflanges thereof accommodating passage of said channel side flangestherethrough into said lapping relation to the flange perimeters of saidpans when said channel is longitudinally aligned with said second framemember, and resiliently biased spindle means supporting said channel forrotary movement about a spindle axis perpendicular to said common planeand for axial movement along the spindle axis to permit selectivewithdrawal of the channel side flanges from said recesses and from saidlapping relation and rotation of the channel to an angular positionrelative to the second frame member. y

10. A pan carrier assembly as defined in claim 9, wherein said rimflanges of said second frame member include strike formations projectingtherefrom toward the center of said wells each providing a shoulderconfronting one of said abutment surfaces and spaced therefromapproximately the thickness of said flange'perimeter of said pans to lapa flange portion of said flange perimeter and retain the same againstthe adjacent abutment surface, and said strike formations presenting aninclined surface to said flange perimeter approaching movement of thelatter toward nested position within said wells to engage and cam aflange portion of the pans in a direction to pass the strike formationsand interfit between said shoulder and one of said'abutment surfaces.

11. A pan carrier assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said carrierframe includes a pair of footing members secured to an opposite pair ofsaid frame members and projecting in opposite directions from saidreference plane to support said carrier frame and a horizontal surfacewith the planes of said abutment surfaces disposed in vertical planesand said first and second frame members arranged as bottom and tophorizontal frame members, respectively.

12. A pan carrier assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said rimflanges of said second frame member include strike formations projectingtherefrom toward the center of said wells each providing a shoulderconfronting one of said abutment surfaces and spaced therefromapproximately the thickness of said flange perimeter of said pans to lapa flange portion of said flange perimeter and retain the same againstthe adjacent abutment surface, and said strike formations presenting anInclined surface to said flange perimeter approaching movement of thelatter toward nested position within said wells to engage and cam aflange portion of the pans in a direction to pass the strike formationsand interfit between said shoulder and one of said abutment surfaces.

